Feet were tired, but spirits were high earlier this month when U of G’s Relay for Life team hosted its annual overnight fundraiser. And in the end, their perseverance paid off with more than $158,000 in donations to the Canadian Cancer Society, the team’s largest total raised to date.

“Every person in the Fieldhouse that night was there because cancer has touched their life in some way,” says Lauren Benson, event co-chair. “It was an incredibly inspiring place to be and I know that everyone left feeling proud of how they played their part in the fight against cancer.”

More than 700 participants filled the Gryphon Fieldhouse on March 9, with teams taking turns making laps around the track from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Participants’ overwhelming support broke the national record, earning U of G the title of Canada’s top fundraising post-secondary Relay for Life event of all time.

“It was a night of hope, where a community of students came together to make a difference,” says Emily Hill, event co-chair.

Funds from the event support cancer research and services for patients and their families.

Watch a video of organizers revealing the night’s total funds raised.

Interested in taking part next year? Contact relay@uoguelph.ca or keep up-to-date by liking their Facebook page.